Police officer accused of filing false hours

A former Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was arrested and charged with false pretense Friday after other members of the department raised questions about the hours he worked.

The former officer – Darrin White, a 16-year veteran of the force who worked in the Hickory Grove division before resigning this May – turned himself in at Mecklenburg jail and was released on a written promise to appear in court.

A Police Department news release says the charge stems from allegations dealing with White's reported work hours and pay with the city. White's annual salary was $63,338, according to city records, but it's unclear how much money is in dispute. An internal investigation is also under way.

A police report, which would provide details about the alleged crime, wasn't immediately available. Internal Affairs Capt. Chuck Adkins said there is an internal investigation into White's actions, but that he couldn't release details because of employee confidentiality laws and because the internal investigation is ongoing.

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“We always defer and allow the criminal case to be pleaded first,” Adkins said. “Then we conclude the internal investigation.”

White's number isn't listed, and he couldn't be reached for comment.

The results of both investigations will be turned over to the state and could affect White's certification as a law enforcement officer.

It's the third false pretenses case involving a CMPD officer that has become public in the past two years.

In October 2007, Jerome Whitlow, 35, was charged with obtaining property by false pretenses. Then-police Chief Darrel Stephens said Whitlow failed to report to an off-duty security job at a construction site, but filled out a time report reflecting that he was there.

In January 2007, Officer Alan McGraw was arrested on the same charge, accused of lying about security work he'd been hired to do at a county park.